Saturday Share with Mary Geisen

The purpose of this weekly feature is to provide a space for regular people to share their real-life encounters with Jesus. It’s about living in the middle – on the way to the finish line. Our stories are not finished and that’s the main point!

I believe we sharpen one another and delight God’s heart when we testify of His great work in our lives. Be encouraged to put one foot in front of the other.

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

I am honored to introduce to you, my feature Saturday Share writer:

Mary Geisen

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Sanctuary ~ The Home in my Heart

By Mary Geisen

Home is my safe place.

A retreat from the weary world.

My sanctuary, my quiet place, where I seek restoration.

I desire for my heart to feel the same way. The home in my heart becomes my sanctuary when I allow God to reside there with me.

Heart work leaves me weary. Allowing God to dig and prune pierces my hurts and leaves me panting from lack of deep breaths. As I suck in the air, the work God has already done in me feels the push of breath against my prickliness. I seek respite from the redirection and reframing of my perspective. But learn my only hope is in the breath of the Spirit who renews my soul as I crave sanctuary in Him.

Our hearts cry out in unison with Jeremiah in Lamentations:

But Lord, you remain the same forever! Your throne continues from generation to generation.Why do you continue to forget us? Why have you abandoned us for so long?Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!Or have you utterly rejected us? Are you angry with us still? Lamentations 5:19-22 NLT

As God continues the pruning, I cry out at the pain and hard work of it all. But I forget that each snip, pinch, and pulling away of what is dead creates new life. If I invite the Spirit into the process, I find the home in my heart. The place of sanctuary becomes the space where the Spirit provides renewal and restoration. My heart, even though broken, begins to heal. The broken pieces of who I am that I find scattered on the floor around me start binding together. Wholeness is but a deep pruning away.

God desires to do a deep heart work in me. He gently pulls me toward Him and asks that I release all that is holding me back. God wants to create a healing space that allows me to find sanctuary in Him. My heart holds the key that God extends to me with all the love He has for me.

I stumble when allowing home in my heart. All the hard work needed comes to mind and I turn back to find the comfortable. God does not give up and reminds me through His word.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I forget to lay down my burdens and receive the restoration that God promises. The solace of the sanctuary is near. I only need to reach out and grab the offering of grace God extends to me.

God leads the way to draw closer to Him in these words from James 4:

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. vs. 7-8

God outlines the steps needed.

Submit to Him

Resist the devil

Come near to God

Wash your hands and purify your hearts

My soul senses the comfort God is providing. I hear the words, “come near” and am drawn into the circle of Jesus’ arms. My burdens begin to melt away as I realize God wants to hear the invitation to join me in the home in my heart. The safe place becomes secure with God and the sanctuary grows in my heart.

As my heart makes space for God to reside, I lean into becoming whole in Christ. My brokenness weaves together by God’s grace and the home in my heart is the place where I hear from God.

Let these words wash over you as a prayer and a promise from God.

Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. Deuteronomy 33:12

May we rest secure in knowing the home in our hearts is one invitation away. Sanctuary is always found in the loving arms of Jesus.

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Mary Geisen is a lover of coffee and deep, soul-filled conversations. She is the mom of two married sons, a retired teacher, writer, author and seeker of grace in the ordinary. Several years ago, God called her to bravely step out by sharing her journey in written form. The power of God’s words has inspired her journey of healing and drawing closer to God through the power of grace. She continues to walk toward brave faith in her everyday life and encourages others to do the same.

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14 thoughts on “Saturday Share with Mary Geisen”

This is absolutely beautiful, Mary. Sometimes I forget that truth. God is my sanctuary, and because He lives in my heart, I don’t have to search for that peace I long to find. It’s right here with me. So wherever I go, I carry the comfort of ‘home’ with me, in my heart. Thank you for the encouragement:)

Thank you for being here, Kristine and for your sweet encouragement. God is so good to remind us He is with us when we are searching in all the wrong places. May you feel God’s presence like a blanket of warmth as you walk through this week. Blessings!

Lisa, thank you so much for sharing Mary’s words here – what an incredible blessing. And thank you for all your prayers.

Mary, you are truly a God-send. You posted this moments after I was just sharing with a friend that one of my biggest struggles is me feeling, since losing my Mum, that my only “home” has been ripped away. And as the Lord has walked me through one trial after another this past year I’ve come face-to-face with an Anna I’d always managed to hide beneath the “good girl” I always thought God expected me to be. And it felt as if my Home in Christ was also being ripped away. But ever so slowly I am learning to embrace my Righteousness- Christ 😊 and His wholeness and perfection – in my mess. To understand that He has always seen what lay beneath and even so loves me- and invites me come that HE may carry the burdens for me.

And so these words of yours felt like a balm as my emotions were swirling again in the midst of grief. Yes, “the home in my heart is the place where I hear from God”. My Home is always with me – thank you for that beautiful reminder.

I don’t often comment on your blog, Mary, but read it every week. I’m so thankful that you are so honest and real in your journey- that is like a warm blanket for me as I walk the path God has given me. Keep writing.

Amen! Anna, thanks for allowing words pointing you to Jesus to do His healing work in you. He loves you so much!
Again, Mary, thank you for your transparent honesty! You point us all toward Jesus!!
Hugs of #knittedhearts
💝💝💝

I loved seeing your sweet name pop here at Lisa’s today. What a blessing to know you are part of my community whether it is in the forefront or the background.

Losing your mom is very difficult. It does feel like a big piece of who you are is being ripped away. My prayers are with you in the navigation of what your new normal looks like. May you feel God in all the places that are now empty due to any kind of loss. May God not only love you BIG but show you in so many different ways that you He has never left your side. Blessings!

Dear Mary and Lisa,
Oh, I am so blessed by God’s weaving and timing. I am actually reading both of your books together each evening! And God is using them to prune and draw my heart deeper into His. Thank you for sharing the words that the Lord has given to you. This Scripture that you closed with Mary, is such a precious one that the Lord used years ago for me: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12 I so needed to hear this today. Blessings to both of you!

Thank you, Bettie, for stopping by and spending some time here with Mary and I today. Isn’t Mary a delight? Her words are like a cool cup of water on the desert road. I bless you ladies to Jesus walking alongside you today! Love and hugs, Lisa

My day is always brighter when you stop by Bettie! There is something so comforting about the words from Deuteronomy. I feel safe and secure because of the Lord’s deep love. Thank you for being here today.

Mary, whenever and wherever I read your words, I always get a clear sense of the truth that you are on a journey with God and toward God. It’s not always a pleasure jaunt and sometimes the way is only lit a few paces ahead of your trusting feet, but always forward, always faithful.
Blessings to you!

I am blessed by your sweet words Michele. What I love is that you see me in my messiness and are still walking this journey with me. I also love that you see my transparency because it means that God is working in me to share words that are describing my journey. Hopefully, it then helps others in their own lives. Blessings on your weekend!

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